Investigation into felling of relic forest starts in Krasnodar Territory

In the Krasnodar Territory, they are now investigating the fact of cutting out a section of the relic forest in the territory of the wildlife reserve "Bolshoi Utrish" (city-resort of Anapa). However, ecologists fear that no efficient measures will be applied to those guilty.

"It is now clear that one month before felling down the juniper-pistachio forest," Candidate of Biology Stanislav Ermolaev, an employee of the Ecological Watch over Northern Caucasus, has noted, "this forest plot was handed over, by an order of the administration head of the city-resort of Anapa into 5-year lease to the "Rosinvest" Limited Liability Company (LLC). That is, we can trace mutual interest of the city administration and a large company."

The inspection was held on December 25 by the Black Sea Inter-Regional Group of the Department of the Russian State Committee for Environment Supervision ("Rosprirodnadzor") for the Krasnodar Territory with participation of representatives of the Anapa Inter-District Prosecutor's Office and Ecological Watch for the Northern Caucasus.

The Inspection Act has fixed the fact of road construction "by removal of the top soil layer up to 1 meter thick" and the fact that roots of perennial plantings could be seen on the surface, the ecologist has explained. The document also specifies the nature protection regimes in force for the cut-out plot. However, it has failed to make any conclusions about the committed violations or proposals as to fix the volume of damage and eliminate the consequences thereof.

"Unfortunately," says Stanislav Ermolaev, "the very attitude of the "Rosprirodnadzor" and Prosecutor's Office inspectors is causing serious concern. It is obvious that these bodies are under pressure exerted by various power bodies willing to hush up the incident."